Tech billionaire Elon Musk hosted a live event on his social media platform X on Thursday, featuring Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany’s far-right, anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD). The event marks the latest move in Musk’s efforts to amplify reactionary political voices in Europe and North America.
During the hour-long conversation, Musk engaged with Weidel, offering a high-profile platform to the AfD ahead of Germany’s upcoming national elections on February 23. The AfD, long sidelined from mainstream German politics due to its controversial positions, stands to benefit from the exposure Musk’s platform provided. The party has drawn scrutiny for minimizing Nazi atrocities, with Germany’s domestic intelligence agencies monitoring it for extremist links. A German court upheld surveillance on the AfD last year, citing its members’ advocacy for a two-tier society that favors ethnic Germans over migrants.
Weidel, in her remarks, described the chat with Musk as a rare opportunity to have a “normal conversation” without interruptions or negative framing, calling him a “visionary.” Musk, for his part, stated that he viewed AfD’s stances on energy policy and immigration as “common sense,” though they disagreed on the value of solar energy, with Musk advocating for it and the AfD opposing it.
Since Musk’s acquisition of X (formerly Twitter) in 2022, the platform has increasingly reflected his own political leanings, bolstering the return of figures like President-elect Donald Trump and reinstating controversial accounts, including neo-Nazis. More than 100,000 accounts participated in the audio-only chat, and over 11 million accounts viewed the discussion’s post, though it remains unclear how many viewers were in Germany.
The event could have regulatory implications for X, especially in Europe, where the company is already under investigation for potential violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act. The Party of European Socialists recently criticized Musk’s involvement with far-right parties and urged the European Union to take legal action against potential misinformation and foreign interference. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also condemned Musk’s influence, accusing him of inciting hatred and supporting neo-Nazi groups.
AfD’s rise has been significant since its founding in 2013, and it is now polling second in Germany ahead of the snap elections, having made history last year as the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since World War II. Other German parties refuse to ally with AfD due to its extreme positions, including its downplaying of the Holocaust and the Nazi era. Weidel rejected these allegations, insisting that AfD is “exactly the opposite” of Adolf Hitler’s party, while accusing left-wing parties of being antisemitic.
Musk, who has been vocal about the potential for civil unrest in Europe, has supported right-wing leaders across the continent. His relationship with the AfD comes amid a growing far-right movement in Europe, with concerns intensifying in Germany, where the Nazi legacy remains a sensitive issue.
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